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AIFF’s development side Pailan Arrows has been in the news for the right and wrong reasons this season. Possession-based brand of football implemented by Arthur Papas has been the face changing aspect of Indian football, while the Arrows players discipline has been a slight cause for concern. These players are the future of Indian Football, if they can be guided in the right path. This can be the start the Indian football lovers had dreamt about. Pailan Arrows had an impressive campaign so far, their best start in I-League has been scripted by these upcoming stars who are ready to break into the national team.

Nicknamed as ‘Holi’, the youngster from Assam is the one entrusted with the responsibility of leading the front line on for the impressive Pailan Arrows. Holicharan’s game sense is blessed with his ability to be on the ‘right place at the right time’ as witnessed during the season’s opener against Mumbai FC. Holicharan is a real poacher on the box, his ability to pounce upon the mistakes and to make the best use out of it differentiates his game from other strikers.

A polished striker, Holicharan can shoot with both legs and has a good shooting range. He is willing to make darting runs to open up the game; his clever runs create space for others and it makes him available to receive the ball as well. This style suits well in Arrows free-flowing brand of football. Holicharan isn’t a finished product by any means and he needs to be clinical in converting the chances coming his way.

A bright future is awaiting him if he can be more lethal in front of goal. For strikers, consistency is very important and they need to deliver good performance day in and day out to be successful in the long run. Many strikers have risen overnight and faded away in the past so it is important that he stick to the basics and delivers over a consistent period of time to fulfill his potential.

Tipped as the future of Indian Football in more than one way, Alwyn George is blessed with good skills on the ball. Alwyn has excelled in his role behind the striker as a modern-day no: 10 for Pailan Arrows and India U-22 which lead to his call-up to the senior national side. Even though Francis Fernandez looks to be ahead of him in the pecking order for the national side, Indian Football pundits considers that move as a step to groom him for the bigger stage.

Alwyn has good close control and ability to stoop past players with his trickery makes him difficult to mark. Alwyn needs to be groomed properly and he is a strong mental character which will help to fulfill the potential. Goal-scoring midfielders are a rare breed in Indian football as to perform under challenging environment is a tougher ask and the ALL-Win of Indian football is capable of it. Possession-based football is adopted with great aplomb by the Pailan Arrows, the creativity and ability to keep possession in tight spaces makes Alwyn the perfect preacher for the future brand of Indian Football. Alwyn can play in different positions and his versatility offers tactical flexibility to his team and if nurtured properly he can become the flag-bearer of Indian Football in no time.

Milan Singh

Milan Singh

The deep-lying midfielders ability to sit deep and dictate the tempo of the game is beyond his tender years. Milan Singh has been instrumental in deploying possession-based football in Pailan Arrows. Unlike other defensive midfielders, Milan is not just a destroyer, he initiates the game sitting between his center-backs and always provides an option for his team mates to rely on. The pass and move brand of football is implemented with ease by the 20-year-old Manipuri lad for the Pailan Arrows.

Pailan Arrows goal-keeper Soram Porei Angamba usually prefers to pass the ball to his team mates rather than taking aimless long goal kicks. Even though the opposition coaches has noticed this tactic, they are unable to close them down quickly because of the positioning and movement of Milan Singh and center-backs Souvik Ghosh and Deepak Devrani. Milan Singh has been the pillar around which Pailan Arrows are built around by the Australian tactician Arthur Papas.

Defensive midfielder’s work doesn’t have the flair or trickery to attract the media front pages and their hard work goes unnoticed io many occasions. Milan Singh’s case is no different as he is an unknown quantity to many when the limelight is grabbed by the goal-scorers in the I-League. Designated as the penalty taker for Pailan Arrows, his name is present on the score-sheet 4 times so far. Milan Singh is a born leader and along with Souvik Ghosh, he shares the responsibilities of leading the next generation Indian footballers on the pitch. Blessed with a tough mental character, Milan Singh faces an even tougher fight in the Indian camp against the likes of Mehtab Hussain and Lenny Rodriguez.

Souvik Ghosh

Shouvik Ghosh

Souvik Ghosh was recently called up to the Indian squad after a string of impressive displays at center-back for his club Pailan Arrows. At the start of the season not many would have predicted this run for Souvik in a team which had Deepak Devrani and Prathamesh Maulingkar as fellow contenders for starting spot. Souvik Ghosh’s influence has grown match by match and he is one of the first names on the team sheet by Arthur Papas now. Initially he depended on his versatility of playing either as left-back or center-back, as the need arose. However, currently he is the first-choice center-back with the captain’s arm band around his arm.

Ball-playing center defenders are a rare breed in Indian football and that is the main reason why we believe that Souvik Ghosh has an important role in the transforming years of Indian Football. An aerial threat and a player confident on the ball is definitely not very common among the Indian Football fanatics and that is exactly what differentiates Souvik Ghosh from the rest. He also possesses good positioning sense and his tackling has been spot on as well. Souvik is a good reader of the game and it aids in intercepting opponents attacks. Souvik Ghosh has all the ingredients to step in the slot vacated by Mahesh Gawli at the heart of Indian defence and the Indian Football fans will be hoping that he will fulfill his potential to make that spot his own.

Pailan Arrows players has won rave reviews from all over India after their brilliant performances in I-League so far. With four wins and two draws in first 9 matches, Pailan Arrows are comfortably sitting at the 6 spot in I-League. There performance has been inspiring to say the least and the four players mainly responsible for this change in fortunes are Holicharan Narzary, Alwyn George, Milan Singh and Souvik Ghosh.

Deepak Devrani and Soram Porei Angamaba were influential as well but these four players have more realistic chances of breaking into the Indian Football team as compared to the rest. As Indian Football is usering in the dawn of a new era, we are introducing the future of Indian Football. They have huge potential and talent, under the tutelage of Arthur Papas they are learning the football lessons the right way to charter their own course in the hallowed annals of Indian Football.